Ministry Statements and Speeches 2008

United Nations General Assembly, 63rd session, Agenda item 17: The situation in Afghanistan.

Statement by H.E Rosemary Banks, Permanent Representative, 10 November 2008

Mr President,

New Zealand welcomes progress made in Afghanistan since this time last year and we are happy to once again cosponsor the draft resolution introduced by Germany.  We congratulate the Government of Afghanistan on its efforts to improve the situation, including in the areas of security, drug control, justice sector reform, gender equality, and local governance.  We welcome Afghanistan’s ratification of the UN Convention against corruption and encourage the Government to continue to fight corruption, which is an impediment to progress in Afghanistan. 

Although there has been positive progress in Afghanistan, the overall situation remains of major concern with ongoing insurgent attacks and a continued high level of opium production. New Zealand condemns the insurgent attacks.  Many of them jeopardise the lives of innocent civilians.

These extreme security challenges must not, however, be allowed to justify continuing infringements of fundamental human rights, including access to justice, the right to due process and freedom of expression.  . 

Mr President,

• We thank Afghanistan’s neighbours for their positive efforts to help improve the situation in Afghanistan. We encourage them to continue to coordinate their efforts with those of the rest of the international community to stabilise Afghanistan, otherwise these efforts at stabilisation will continue to be undermined by cross border activities.
• The NATO Summit earlier in the year in Bucharest reviewed the situation in Afghanistan and put forward a plan aimed primarily at improving the security situation.  At the summit, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark highlighted the need for a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach covering security, governance and development interventions, with a re-balancing of effort towards governance and development, and with an emphasis on reconciliation.
• For these reasons, the international community needs to increase non-military assistance. The Paris Conference outcomes addressed development priorities articulated in the new Afghanistan National Development Strategy. 
• We encourage all nations to implement the commitments they have made to improve the circumstances in Afghanistan.   It is essential that the required resources are made available so that the Afghanistan that Ambassador Zahir Tanin spoke about this morning can become a reality, an Afghanistan where people can rebuild their lives in peace.
• New Zealand welcomes the improved coordinating role of the United Nations through the strengthening of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.  This will progress the efficiency and effectiveness of the international community’s assistance to Afghanistan. We fully support the work of Special Representative Kai Eide and note that progress he has made in a short time.    
• New Zealand looks forward to the holding of free and fair elections in 2009 and 2010 as another building block for democracy in Afghanistan.
• Since 2001 New Zealand has made a substantial commitment to the international effort to restore peace and security in Afghanistan.  The Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan Province is the centrepiece of this commitment. 
• In closing, Mr President, may I acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices made by all those nations who are working in partnership with the Government of Afghanistan and to also express sympathy for the loss of life of two Spanish soldiers over the weekend.

 

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